The passengers went out of the airport smoothly, indicating the success of the new operational plan, GACA said in a press statement.
It said the air traffic operations were shifted to the new airport terminal after its buildings and facilities were completed.
According to GACA, the new buildings consisted of arrival and departure lounges, a control tower, service utilities, administrative and technical offices and other facilities.
This is one of the new generation of airports that are being built according to the most recent designs taking into consideration the comfort of the passengers. It is also an extension of the many regional and international airports currently being constructed in the Kingdom, the GACA statement said.
The authority recently completed the construction of a number of airports in different parts of the country.
GACA said the new Najran airport would receive jumbo jets and operate international flights to neighboring countries in addition to domestic flights to all destinations within the Kingdom. The airport has an annual capacity of 1.4 million passengers and 15,000 flights, it added.
The two-story passenger lounge has an area of 13,000 sq. meters. The ground floor, which has an area of 6,886 sq. meters, consists of arrival lounges, administration offices, a cafeteria, a prayer place and shops. The first floor has an area of 6,000 sq. meters and consists of departure lounges, a hall for first-class passengers, a waiting area for women, a cafeteria, a prayer place and shops. The departure lounges have playrooms for children to spend time while waiting to board the plane. The airport's parking lot has room for 650 cars.
